PREFACE. 



The last Session of the B. O. C. was especially successful, 

 and the descriptions of the many new species from Fernando 

 Po discovered by Lieut. Boyd Alexander, from the Ruwenzori 

 Range by Mr. F. J. Jackson, and from Yun-nan by Colonel 

 Rippon, would suffice to make this Session remarkable in 

 the history of the Club. 



As heretofore, the B. O. C. has been greatly indebted to 

 the Hon. Walter Rothschild for the exhibitiou of examples 

 of the new and rare species acquired by him during the 

 past twelvemonth ; while the interesting specimens from 

 Mr. Witherby's expedition to Persia have afforded material 

 for discussion at more than one of the meetings. 



The occurrence of several birds for the first time in 

 Great Britain has been made known in the pages of this 

 ' Bulletin/ and many new species of great interest have 

 been described by Capt. Shelley, Col. Bingham, and other 

 ornithologists. 



It is to be hoped that the efforts of the Club to prevent 

 the extermination of the Kite as a British species will be 

 attended with favourable results. 



(Signed) R. BOWDLER SHARPE, 



Editor. 

 October 1st, 1903. 



